Lions tamed in tale of two cities

Rohan Bewick of the Lions is tackled by Dan Hanneberry. Photo by Chris Hyde Source: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

IT was a tale of two cities at the Gabba last night.

For Sydney, it was the best times with a case "no Buddy, no problem".

For the Brisbane Lions, it was the worst of times with a case of "no Jonathan Brown, no Pearce Hanley, no chance".

The Swans cruised to a comprehensive 79-point thrashing of the Lions who were guilty of the same football sins that have condemned the club to the bottom of the ladder after seven rounds.

Shocking lapses of concentration late in quarters, poor skills and bad decisions cruelled any chance an inexperienced and undermanned Brisbane had of ever springing an upset over the Swans who claimed their third-straight win with a dominant effort.

Brown was named on Thursday night but was officially ruled out 90 minutes before the first bounce due to 'general soreness'.

Joel Patfull tries to spoil Dan Hannebery. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: News Corp Australia

In reality, the triple premiership star was never going to play after pulling up sore after last week's win over St Kilda.

Brisbane have been waiting for a chance to rest Brown and given he had barely trained all week, he was effectively omitted days ago.

His absence compounded the Lions problems after Hanley was ruled out with hamstring-related back problem on Thursday.

With Swans spearhead Lance Franklin unavailable due to a knee injury, Australian of the Year Adam Goodes stepped in with three goals for Sydney while co-captain Kieren Jack also booted two majors.

Jarrad McVeigh (35 disposals, five clearances, four inside 50s) and Josh Kennedy (34 disposals, five inside 50s, two goals) were outstanding for the Swans while Tom Rockliff battled manfully with 30 disposals, 10 tackles, four clearances and one goal after being physically ill throughout the game.

Nick Malcevski tackles Lewis Taylor. Photo by Chris Hyde Source: Getty Images

One Lions supporter produced an engagement ring in an on-field marriage proposal at half-time and the suffering followed for Brisbane as Sydney raced to a commanding 59-point lead at the last change.

Brisbane showed some fight with two goals to Marco Paparone in the third term but a four-goal burst late in the quarter wrapped up the premiership points

Sydney had also turned on the afterburners in time-on in the second quarter to take a 33-pointy buffer into half-time.

Brisbane closed to within seven points of the visitors late in the term but the Swans piled on four quick-fire goals through Harry Cunningham, Sam Reid, Josh Kennedy and Jarrad McVeigh.

Jed Adcock could not contain Kieren Jack. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: News Corp Australia

It was a familiar tale of woe for the Lions who are the worst "red time'' team in the AFL. Too often, Swans players were in wide, open spaces with a defender nowhere to be seen.

Brisbane was the better side for large portions of the second quarter but too many promising build-ups broke down with unforced errors.

Sydney suffered a major blow when ruckman Mike Pyke was subbed out of the game with hamstring strain just before half-time but the loss of the big Canadian appeared to have little impact as the Swans tore the Lions to pieces in the dying minutes.

Sydney looked determined to put the game on ice by quarter-time after racing to a 19-point lead in the opening minutes with the two goals to Goodes and another major to Jack before Brisbane troubled the scorers.

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